Just as Jessica Day rocks a lot of polka dots, I rock a lot of culottes:
Top: LOFT Belt & Culottes: vintage, thrifted Shoes: Madden Girl
These are my current favorites:
If I had my way, I'd wear culottes every day. Every day, People. It's that serious. In fact, I had to be talked out of some blue satin culottes the other day. And, to be honest, I'm not sure I have been talked out of them. It's not that I need blue satin culottes, there probably isn't anyone that needs blue satin culottes, it's just that I love them.
And I love these:
I found them at Goodwill the other day and practically begged them to fit over my hips. Happily, they complied and we've been together ever since. It's basically a match made in heaven. They treat me right by fitting, having pockets and making all my culotte dreams come true. And I treat them right by pairing them with stripes and lace up wedges:
Perfection. Outfits like this are the exact reason I rock a lot of culottes.
As much as I complained about summer taking it's sweet time getting here, when it got here, it was hot, hot, hot and now I'm ready for fall. I'm ready to get back to wearing my beloved scarves. I'm ready to get back to wearing layers. And I'm ready to get back to fall fashion.
Here is the first of the five trends I'm excited for this fall...
Animals
I have to admit that I was not always a big proponent of clothing with animals on them. Animal print, sure, but a print of animals? Not so much. To my tastes, clothes with animals on them can look a bit twee. Case in point:
Personally, pieces like those just aren't my style and are the reason I'm generally so lukewarm on this trend. Happily, haters of twee have options. Animals can be found on all sorts of pieces at all sorts of price points, and range from the ridiculously twee to sophisticated pieces that add a touch of whimsy, not a touch of Pampers.
Here are some of my favorites and while some of them are darned cute, none of them are cutesy:
And, while you generally see animals on intarsia sweaters, scarves are a great way to try the trend as well:
Whatever your taste in this trend, there are a few things you can do to keep from looking juvenile, unless of course that's your thing, then I totally support you. No judgement here. But, if it's not your thing and you are a giant who knows you're too tall to be twee, here are some tips to keep your animal-inclusive outfits from heading into twee territory:
Don't do baby animals. A tiger is cool, a baby tiger is cutesy.
Limit the color. I know, I know, this, coming from me. But, that rooster sweater? That's an amazing sweater with a leather skirt or jeans. With matching burgundy cords, it's a Geranimals-for-Grown-Ups outfit.
If you wear it with a mini, which is totally cute, please don't do knee socks and Mary Janes and pigtails.
What about you, Reader Friends? Are you fans of the animal trend? How do you like to wear it?
I’m working with a bit of a skeleton wardrobe for the next
month or so and when I was trying to decide what to keep out and what to store
I knew I had to keep my Born boots.
I honestly can’t imagine a fall without these boots:
Now, before you cringe and unfollow me over the wearing of
black with brown, please allow me to explain.
I know a lot of people are against pairing black with brown,
but I am rather for it.Especially when
worn with a “bridging” color, like blue. What’s a bridging color, you ask? Well, it’s a term I made up, as one does, to describe a color that helps bridge the gap between two other colors.
Like this sweater is doing with the skirt and the boots:
This is a picture of me explaining why this outfit works; I'm demonstrating the gap I'm bridging with blue.
Just black and brown together looks fine to my eye, but I
can admit that if I had worn a black top with this, the brown boots would have looked
out of place. And then you totally could
have left in a huff, vowing never to return until I got my act together and
stopped mixing neutrals.
But the blue, especially a printed blue, helps tie the brown
in.Because it’s a bridging color. See?
I like to think of these flame-colored cords as my fall pants:
Because, as you can see, they are perfect for fall.
Can you wear flaming orange cords outside of fall? Sure, I guess you could. If for some reason you liked wearing fall pants in spring, you certainly could do that.
I like to pair my flame-colored fall pants with blue. One, because there is very little I won't pair with blue. And, two, because that color combination reminds me of the blue skies and orange leaves of fall.
Today I paired them with blue leopard; because blue leopard is awesome:
Especially with flame-colored cords:
Happy Monday, All! Or, I should say Happy Visible Monday because I'm finally linking up with Patti!
As some of you may have noticed, I inadvertently skipped Literary Stylings for last month. And, unfortunately, I'm going to have to skip it this month as well.
I have a lot, no, seriously, a LOT, of changes going on in my life right now and my blogging has become necessarily sporadic. Oh, what's that? You noticed? Well, of course you did; how could you not?!
Rather than just let stuff slide I figure it's best to let you know ahead of time that I'm going to have to cut back a bit. Although, I guess because stuff has already slid it's not really ahead of time, but, hey, at least I'm trying! I really thought I could keep up with everything going on and with my blog, but it's proving impossible.
So, this means that I'm not going to have any more Literary Styling link parties. Not for awhile. At this point, I know I can't do tomorrow or next month and probably not December either. So let's shoot for January, m'kay?
As for everything else, I'm going to try to post regularly. At least more regularly than last week, but will need you for forgive me if I only get a post or two up.
Thank you all for your understanding in advance. You are the bestest!
